The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ, 2010
BACKGROUND Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign and self-limited disease, first reported in Japan... more BACKGROUND Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign and self-limited disease, first reported in Japan in 1972. The characteristic features of this disorder include lymphadenopathy and fever. OBJECTIVES To summarize our experience with Kikuchi disease with regard to clinical manifestations and outcome. METHODS The patients included in the study were those diagnosed with Kikuchi disease during the years 2005-2008 in two departments of internal medicine at Sheba Medical Center. RESULTS We identified five patients with Kikuchi disease; four were women and the mean age was 22.6 years. All the patients had cervical lymphadenopathy; three had other sites of lymphadenopathy. Four of the patients had fever higher than 39 degrees C. Two of them had splenomegaly and three reported weight loss. Three of the five patients experienced a relapse of the disease and were treated with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the patients by an excisional biop...
PURPOSE To determine bed height adjustment for maintaining neutral lumbar position as a function ... more PURPOSE To determine bed height adjustment for maintaining neutral lumbar position as a function of anthropometric dimensions. MATERIALS AND METHODS 80 physical therapy students performed passive shoulder flexion and straight leg raising tasks on standard versus the adjustable bed. The lumbar angle was measured at the start and finish of tasks. The rate of perceived exertion was measured immediately after each task. The most comfortable bed height in relation to some anatomical landmarks was measured. RESULTS Mean bed height for shoulder flexion tasks was significantly higher than for straight leg raising. The mean adjusted bed heights for both tasks were significantly higher and with less exertion felt by the participants, compared to the standard bed height (0.715 m). The third knuckle of the hand and the radial styloid process of the wrist were established as the most valuable anthropometric landmarks for bed height adjustment. CONCLUSIONS The above landmarks are recommended to maintain a neutral lumbar position while adjusting bed heights for manual tasks. Each manual task requires adjustment of the bed height. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.
Previous studies have reported that osteophytes in the cervical vertebrae may cause immobility, n... more Previous studies have reported that osteophytes in the cervical vertebrae may cause immobility, neck stiffness, osteoarthritis, headaches, nerve entrapment syndromes, and compression of the vertebral artery. Our objective was to explore the osteophytes' expression on zygapophyseal joints C3–C7. This is a cross‐sectional observational skeletal study. The study sample comprised 273 human skeletons of both sexes, aged 20–93, housed at the Natural History Museum, OH, USA. A grading system assessed the presence and severity of osteophytosis on the zygapophyseal joints. The chi‐square test (SPSS 25.0) examined the association between osteophytes and demographic factors. The level of significance (α) was set at .05. The highest prevalence of osteophytes was found on C5 vertebra, the lowest on C7. On vertebrae C3, C4, C6, the rate of moderate and severe osteophytes found on the superior and inferior facets were comparable. Moderate and severe degrees of osteophytes were observed more frequently on the superior facets, whereas, on vertebra C7, osteophytes were found on the inferior facet joints. Osteophytes' prevalence was significantly higher in the elderly compared to the younger population. Osteophytes in the C3–C7 zygapophyseal joints are age‐dependent. No significant sex and ethnic differences were observed. Vertebra C5 was most prone to develop osteophytes, most probably due to its location in the cervical lordotic peak, C5 in the superior ZF; C7 in the inferior ZF are significant (p = .05). The zygapophyseal joints of C7 were least frequent overall, yet, the C7 inferior facets had significantly more moderate–severe osteophytes compared to other cervical vertebrae.
The ratio between the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal and the sagittal diameter of the vert... more The ratio between the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal and the sagittal diameter of the vertebral body, known as the "Torg ratio", is often used to test for spinal canal narrowing. Here we investigate this ratio in a large population, consisting of two ethnicities, both sexes and three age groups. Measurements were taken on the dry cervical verterbrae (C3-C7) of 277 individuals using a digital apparatus allowing for the recording of 3D coordinates of a set of landmarks on the vertebral body. Vertebral body and vertebral foramen lengths were compared across the different sub-groups. Vertebral body and vertebral foramen lengths differ significantly between males and females and between African-Americans and European-Americans. With age, the vertebral body length increases while the foramen length does not undergo significant changes. These anatomical differences are reflected in differences in the Torg ratio calculated for the different sub-groups. Our findings suggest ...
Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007), Jan 5, 2018
Vertebral osteophytes are an age-dependent manifestation of degenerative changes in the spine. We... more Vertebral osteophytes are an age-dependent manifestation of degenerative changes in the spine. We aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of cervical osteophytosis in a large study population. To do so, we developed a grading system for osteophytosis, enabling the assessment of their presence and severity in the cervical spine; and applied it to the analysis of dried cervical vertebral bodies (C3-C7) from 273 individuals. Statistical analyses were carried out per motion segment, while testing for the effect of age, sex and ethnicity. The highest prevalence of osteophytes was found in motion segment C5/C6 (48.2%), followed by C4/C5 (44.1%), and lastly C6/C7 and C3/C4 (40.5%). Severe osteophytes are most commonly seen in motion segment C5/C6. In all motion segments, the inferior discal surface of the upper vertebra manifests more osteophytes than the superior discal surface of the lower one. Osteophytes prevalence is sex-dependent only in the upper cervical vertebrae (C3-C4), a...
The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, Jan 17, 2016
This cross-sectional study was conducted on the skeletal remains of individuals of known sex, age... more This cross-sectional study was conducted on the skeletal remains of individuals of known sex, age and ethnic origin. The vertebral bodies of levels C3-C7 were measured and analyzed. Whereas many studies were performed on the size and shape of the vertebral bodies in the thoracic and lumbar spines, few have focused on the cervical vertebral bodies. Thus, there is insufficient data in the literature regarding the anatomy of the cervical spine, especially based on large study populations. To establish a large database on cervical vertebral bodies' size and shape and analyze their association with demographic parameters. The population studied was composed of 277 individuals, adult males and females of African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) origin. The skeletal remains are housed at the Hamman-Todd Osteological collection (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH). A 3-D digitizer was used to measure the size and shape of the C3- C7 vertebral bodies. Descriptive ...
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of disa... more Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of disabling and life threatening diarrhea in an immunocompetent elderly woman due to CMV colitis. The diagnosis of CMV was based on histological examination of tissues biopsied at colonoscopy, positive CMV antigen and high CMV-IgM titer in peripheral blood samples and a good response to systemic gancyclovir treatment. We conclude that CMV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of colitis in elderly immunocompetent patients.
The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ, 2010
BACKGROUND Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign and self-limited disease, first reported in Japan... more BACKGROUND Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign and self-limited disease, first reported in Japan in 1972. The characteristic features of this disorder include lymphadenopathy and fever. OBJECTIVES To summarize our experience with Kikuchi disease with regard to clinical manifestations and outcome. METHODS The patients included in the study were those diagnosed with Kikuchi disease during the years 2005-2008 in two departments of internal medicine at Sheba Medical Center. RESULTS We identified five patients with Kikuchi disease; four were women and the mean age was 22.6 years. All the patients had cervical lymphadenopathy; three had other sites of lymphadenopathy. Four of the patients had fever higher than 39 degrees C. Two of them had splenomegaly and three reported weight loss. Three of the five patients experienced a relapse of the disease and were treated with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the patients by an excisional biop...
PURPOSE To determine bed height adjustment for maintaining neutral lumbar position as a function ... more PURPOSE To determine bed height adjustment for maintaining neutral lumbar position as a function of anthropometric dimensions. MATERIALS AND METHODS 80 physical therapy students performed passive shoulder flexion and straight leg raising tasks on standard versus the adjustable bed. The lumbar angle was measured at the start and finish of tasks. The rate of perceived exertion was measured immediately after each task. The most comfortable bed height in relation to some anatomical landmarks was measured. RESULTS Mean bed height for shoulder flexion tasks was significantly higher than for straight leg raising. The mean adjusted bed heights for both tasks were significantly higher and with less exertion felt by the participants, compared to the standard bed height (0.715 m). The third knuckle of the hand and the radial styloid process of the wrist were established as the most valuable anthropometric landmarks for bed height adjustment. CONCLUSIONS The above landmarks are recommended to maintain a neutral lumbar position while adjusting bed heights for manual tasks. Each manual task requires adjustment of the bed height. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.
Previous studies have reported that osteophytes in the cervical vertebrae may cause immobility, n... more Previous studies have reported that osteophytes in the cervical vertebrae may cause immobility, neck stiffness, osteoarthritis, headaches, nerve entrapment syndromes, and compression of the vertebral artery. Our objective was to explore the osteophytes' expression on zygapophyseal joints C3–C7. This is a cross‐sectional observational skeletal study. The study sample comprised 273 human skeletons of both sexes, aged 20–93, housed at the Natural History Museum, OH, USA. A grading system assessed the presence and severity of osteophytosis on the zygapophyseal joints. The chi‐square test (SPSS 25.0) examined the association between osteophytes and demographic factors. The level of significance (α) was set at .05. The highest prevalence of osteophytes was found on C5 vertebra, the lowest on C7. On vertebrae C3, C4, C6, the rate of moderate and severe osteophytes found on the superior and inferior facets were comparable. Moderate and severe degrees of osteophytes were observed more frequently on the superior facets, whereas, on vertebra C7, osteophytes were found on the inferior facet joints. Osteophytes' prevalence was significantly higher in the elderly compared to the younger population. Osteophytes in the C3–C7 zygapophyseal joints are age‐dependent. No significant sex and ethnic differences were observed. Vertebra C5 was most prone to develop osteophytes, most probably due to its location in the cervical lordotic peak, C5 in the superior ZF; C7 in the inferior ZF are significant (p = .05). The zygapophyseal joints of C7 were least frequent overall, yet, the C7 inferior facets had significantly more moderate–severe osteophytes compared to other cervical vertebrae.
The ratio between the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal and the sagittal diameter of the vert... more The ratio between the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal and the sagittal diameter of the vertebral body, known as the "Torg ratio", is often used to test for spinal canal narrowing. Here we investigate this ratio in a large population, consisting of two ethnicities, both sexes and three age groups. Measurements were taken on the dry cervical verterbrae (C3-C7) of 277 individuals using a digital apparatus allowing for the recording of 3D coordinates of a set of landmarks on the vertebral body. Vertebral body and vertebral foramen lengths were compared across the different sub-groups. Vertebral body and vertebral foramen lengths differ significantly between males and females and between African-Americans and European-Americans. With age, the vertebral body length increases while the foramen length does not undergo significant changes. These anatomical differences are reflected in differences in the Torg ratio calculated for the different sub-groups. Our findings suggest ...
Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007), Jan 5, 2018
Vertebral osteophytes are an age-dependent manifestation of degenerative changes in the spine. We... more Vertebral osteophytes are an age-dependent manifestation of degenerative changes in the spine. We aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of cervical osteophytosis in a large study population. To do so, we developed a grading system for osteophytosis, enabling the assessment of their presence and severity in the cervical spine; and applied it to the analysis of dried cervical vertebral bodies (C3-C7) from 273 individuals. Statistical analyses were carried out per motion segment, while testing for the effect of age, sex and ethnicity. The highest prevalence of osteophytes was found in motion segment C5/C6 (48.2%), followed by C4/C5 (44.1%), and lastly C6/C7 and C3/C4 (40.5%). Severe osteophytes are most commonly seen in motion segment C5/C6. In all motion segments, the inferior discal surface of the upper vertebra manifests more osteophytes than the superior discal surface of the lower one. Osteophytes prevalence is sex-dependent only in the upper cervical vertebrae (C3-C4), a...
The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, Jan 17, 2016
This cross-sectional study was conducted on the skeletal remains of individuals of known sex, age... more This cross-sectional study was conducted on the skeletal remains of individuals of known sex, age and ethnic origin. The vertebral bodies of levels C3-C7 were measured and analyzed. Whereas many studies were performed on the size and shape of the vertebral bodies in the thoracic and lumbar spines, few have focused on the cervical vertebral bodies. Thus, there is insufficient data in the literature regarding the anatomy of the cervical spine, especially based on large study populations. To establish a large database on cervical vertebral bodies' size and shape and analyze their association with demographic parameters. The population studied was composed of 277 individuals, adult males and females of African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) origin. The skeletal remains are housed at the Hamman-Todd Osteological collection (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH). A 3-D digitizer was used to measure the size and shape of the C3- C7 vertebral bodies. Descriptive ...
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of disa... more Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of disabling and life threatening diarrhea in an immunocompetent elderly woman due to CMV colitis. The diagnosis of CMV was based on histological examination of tissues biopsied at colonoscopy, positive CMV antigen and high CMV-IgM titer in peripheral blood samples and a good response to systemic gancyclovir treatment. We conclude that CMV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of colitis in elderly immunocompetent patients.
Uploads
Papers by David Ezra